TVH3 The Words for 18th July 2022

Locks Cross, Ponsworthy, Dartmoor

On-Down The Rugglestone

 

Run No. 1926

 

HARE: Pisswell

 

Who wuz there: Pisswell, Beefy, Man-Pig, Cheerio-Beerio, Piltdown Man, Georgy Porgy, Smellie, Coldtits, Slip-on-Me, Rambo, Well Hopped, Big End, Strap-On, Strap-Dancer, Ernie, Wetfart, Teapot.

 

The Circle

The car park at Locks cross is small. However, we all managed to cram in - except Ernie who decided to park on a grassy knoll opposite. Despite the sound of gunfire nearby, we were reasonably confident that it wasn't Lee Harvey Oswald creating all the noise.

 

Piltdown Man found a horse wearing a burka and Shitfaced was absent, allegedly due to a migraine. Hence Piltdown Man took over the Grand Master's duties for the evening. It was very brief. "Thank you for turning up".

 

Rambo had an announcement about needing hares for three Mondays in September. Then it was over to the Hare, Pisswell. There were three trails, Walkers, Shorts, and Longs. "The marks may not be very clear in bracken (they were) so head for the obvious viewpoint if you lose the trail". Additionally, "There is a bailer in one field and it's difficult to lay flour on hay. Follow the footpath".

 

The Trail by hare Pisswell

 

Tune by the Worzels, “Where be that blackbird to?”

Lyrics by hare, for a bit of Dartmoor dialect!

============================

Where be that car park to?

I know where it be.

Just be up that gurt big ‘ill

Up out of Ponsworthy

Neath Corndon tor

Up on the moor

We’ll circle and I’ll tell you

It’s 5 the long, that’s definite

All others, choice of two

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Where’s the down down?

The Rugg!

Where are we gwain to?

Most went down the hill

Longs and co across the moor

For views just take your fill

Theyre off to Primms

No more lived in

Then down the lane to Sweaton

They baled my marks into the hay

But no one was beaten!

Dunna Dunna Dunna Donna Dunna Dunna

Make your choice at The Splash

Some followed back the longs

Some the two moors way

Under the ladder there

Unlucky there today!

Was Coldtits gone?

We carried on

Whilst Beefy went to find her

She’s having fun, forgot to run,

Par-ty down by the river!

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Ov-er the bridge to Jordan

At the writing on the wall

Choice on to Shallowford

Or a short towards the left

Shortcut to Corndonford

A solo trek across the bog

Was taken on by Smellie

All dry now, it’s been so hot

No need for wellies!

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Wildlife resue Coldtits!

One more last split to go

A viewpoint for the longs

Up through Higher Foxworthy

But easy to go wrong!

Virgin ground, beat bracken down

To help them all with wending

There way up top to Corndon tor

Not lost, happy ending!

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Back to Ruggle

We’re done!

Who may have gathered there?

I know who they be

Pisswell, Beefy, Ernie too Teapot and Slip on me. Manpig,

Piltdown, Wet Farts around Smellie, Georgie Porgie Coldtits, Strap on, Strap dancer too

Well hopped and Big End

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Cheerio Beerio Rambo

Who got the down downs down?

I know who they be

For the hare and Beefy too

For Sweeping round for me

Big End had one, though what he done

Was just not driving Well Hopped

But Smellie’s letter upside down

“Medium” was well copped!

Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna Dunna

Hottest day yet

 

Well done x

 

The Trail by Man-Pig

Well, what can I say about the trail? Part three of Pisswell's Dartmoor Trilogy 2022 exceeded the incredibly high standard already set over the previous 1twelve months or so. I think it would be best to let the photos tell the story of the trail. It was beautiful and virgin territory from start to finish.

 

The Walkers and the Shorts headed downhill into Ponsworthy whilst the Longs headed uphill along the edge of Sherberton Common. After about 200 yards the trail took us off-road and left past the only house on the common. A tiny, isolated shed really with very little land. It had, nevertheless, just sold at auction for a staggering £601k. Beefy and I agreed that the price must include £451k for the views (see photos).

 

We rejoined road and headed southeast for about 300 yards before a mark had us entering the recently cut field followed by a second field where the hay had already been baled. Ernie took the opportunity of having a hash slash behind a bale whilst the rest of us entered a dark and ancient walled track that took us back to the edge of Ponsworthy.

 

At this point, we came across the walkers coming in the other direction. Pisswell had connived a plan as cunning as anything dreamt up by Blackadder. The Longs' early loop was also the Walkers' trail but in reverse.

 

At the end of the track, we hit tarmac again and dropped into the southern end of Ponsworthy. At the "splash" (ford) we joined up with the Shorts' trail and it wasn't long before we caught up with Rambo and Strap-Dancer. This part of the trail is incredibly picturesque as it runs 

northwards following Two Moors Way along the banks of the west Webburn River. We caught up with the Shorts and Pisswell at Jordan Mill Cottage just after crossing the bridge. Jordan Mill Cottage is a quintessentially beautiful thatched Devon cottage; a lot of ooooohs and ahhhhs when we passed that one (hopefully someone has a photo of it).

 

At Jordan, we followed an uphill track that arced around to East Shallowford. Halfway around the arc, we came to a Long/Short split. The shorts went due east and uphill towards Corndon Ford Farm. The Longs embarked on a loop around to East Shallowford then uphill and left eventually rejoining the Shorts near Corndon Ford Farm. The Longs had kept pretty tight up to this point and comprised Man-Pig, Well-Hopped, Big End, Strap-On, and Ernie with Beefy sweeping.

 

A check had Man-Pig on a fool's errand whilst everyone else headed, correctly, for Foxworthy.

Here we came to the final Long/Short split. The cars were within sniffing distance so Strap-On made a bee-line for the car park. The others followed the Longs' trail up to the top of Corndon Tor at 1396 feet above sea level where we were blessed with the most spectacular of views. A brief photo op as the sun set behind us before beefy guided us off the Tor and back to the car park.

 

5.36 thoroughly enjoyable miles. Thank you, Pisswell. A fantastic trail, very well laid, and virgin territory to boot. Just brilliant!

 

The Down-Downs

The Walkers had got back to the pub well before the Longs. Teapot had already gone home. Wetfart was just finishing his beer. Beefy was running back o the pub via his house for a quick shower and Cheerio-Beerio never made it back to the pub.

 

Pisswell was waiting for Rambo back at the car park whilst he was taking photos. hence the Down-Downs didn't commence until 9.45. There was also some confusion regarding a tray containing two untouched pints of beer and a pint of water. Had teapot got the Down-Downs in and then left? Apparently not. They were a cancelled order from a Dutch couple who thought that the beer was too warm!

 

Pisswell arranged the Down-Down drinks and it was over to Man-Pig to RA for the evening. there were only nine of us left and none of those present had awards from two weeks previously. Hence the first two halves went to the Hares for another excellent Dartmoor trail.

With no hats to award, Man-Pig put Smellie on the spot as she had had a down-down two weeks ago as one of the three best-themed costumes on from our Fourth of July hash. 

 

Eventually, Smellie came up with a story about someone on trail describing her pond life, in particular, dragonflies. This was Coldtits. However, Coldtits was driving so nominated Big End to have her half. A note for "Pondlife".

 

Were there any stories on trail? Strap-On came to the rescue with a story about a hasher who, on returning to the car park, saw an "M" on the ground written in flour. "Oh. Pisswell's also laid a medium trail!". Errrrm. Well, no. It's actually the Walker's outward trail upside down. Accordingly, a note for Smellie as the "dyslexic one".

 

Next week

Ashcombe Cross junction on the A380 - Forestry Commission access road; Hare is Piltdown Man no doubt aided by Georgy Porgy. The On-down is tentatively earmarked as the Ship Inn, Chudleigh - details to be confirmed on Facebook.

 

On-On to next week. Man-Pig